Workers of nine state-owned jute mills in Khulna, Jessore, and Narsingdi districts have continued their fast-unto-death for the second consecutive day to press home their 11-point demand.
On the second phase of the protest on Monday (Dec 30), the jute mill workers demonstrated on the Khulna-Jessore highway, halting production work.
The 11-point demand includes implementation of the wage commission, payment of regular wages, cancellation of public-private ownership of the jute mills, allocating necessary funds for jute sector and others.
Collective bargaining agents (CBAs) and non-CBA Sangram Parishad Joint Convener Md Murad Hossian said, "The authorities failed to keep their promise to us, which is why we have resumed the hunger strike."
Platinum Jute Mill CBA President Sahan Sharmin said, "We do not want to protest in such cold weather. We will go back to work as soon as they fulfill our demands."
Earlier, the workers of nine state-owned jute mills went on work abstention and went on an unto-death hunger strike from Dec 10 to 13.
Abdur Sattar, 55, a worker of Platinum Jute Mills, died at Khulna Medical College Hospital during the strike on Dec 12.
Later the workers postponed their unto-death hunger strike until Dec 17, upon assurance from the state minister for labour that their demands will be fulfilled.
On Dec 27, CBAs and non-CBA Sangram Parishad leaders announced the resumption of their hunger strike unto death from a meeting held in Dhaka as the promise was not fulfilled.